Happy Halloween from the Gals & Guy!

Happy Halloween from the Gals!

Enjoy our Disney inspired costumes

Disney Gal Beth:
Mickey and Pirates and Tigger, oh my!

Wordless Wednesday - October 30, 2013

WELCOME TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS

DISNEY LETTER HERO'S AND VILLAIN'S!

 

Special Thanks goes out to Deb from Focused on the Magic for
hosting the weekly blog hop!



Kid's Korner Last Minute Halloween Costumes

There's Still Time to Create Something Bootiful

If you’re like many of us, you’ve just come to the startling realization that Halloween is only 48 hours away.  No need to panic-you can still pull off a fun and totally creative costume with items you probably have around the house, or that can easily be found at any Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart or even the Dollar Store.
 

No time to waste-let’s get started!

Disney to hold a ‘Veterans Institute’ Workshop at Walt Disney World Resort

On November 14th the Walt Disney Company will be holding a Veterans Institute at the Walt Disney World Resort. The event will have experts from Disney's Heroes Work Here, government officials, veterans and non-profit veterans services organizations.  The Keynote speaker for this event will be the First Lady Michelle Obama, who has made supporting military families and US Troops one of her top priorities.   

Also in attendance will be:

• Robert A. Iger, Chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company
• Bob Woodruff, ABC News Anchor
• Rosye Cloud, Senior Advisor on Veteran Employment, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Dr. Susan S. Kelley, Director, Transition to Veteran Program Office, Department of Defense
• Rich Morales, Colonel, U.S. Army and Executive Director, Joining Forces
• Teresa Gerton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Labor
• Mike Haynie, Executive Director and Founder, Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University

To learn more about this important event visit: Heroes Work Here

First Look Aboard the Disney Magic

The newly re-imagined Disney Magic has just left her home port of Miami and our friends at Destinations in Florida were invited by the Main Mouse himself to ride along!  Check out the beautiful shots they sent us. Hard to believe all these renovations were done in just six weeks!

Wet & Wild Fun:

Aqua Dunk on Deck 13

Who's ready to drop?

Twist n Spout Waterslide

D23 Present Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives - Part II

D23 Present Treasures of the

Walt Disney Archives - Part II

 

As I had stated in Part I, D23 and MSI went all out to make us feel welcome and special during this event, but as we all know Disney knows how to throw a party!  

Wordless Wednesday - October 23, 2013

TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS

DISNEY LETTER "P"!

Disney Gal Kelly:

D23 Present Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives - Part I

D23 Present Treasures of the

Walt Disney Archives - Part I

As you know from my previous posts, I was among a very few lucky working media who were able to attend a special preview of D23 Presents Treasure of the Walt Disney Archives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  I first received an email from Renee Maihiot, Public Relations Coordinator from the Museum advising me of the agenda for the morning of the opening of this special exhibit; which was also the 90th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. 

• 8:00 a.m. Continental breakfast
• 8:20 - 9:15 a.m. Guided tour of Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives
• 10:30 a.m. Exhibit opening event for the general public
  
  

We all met in the Museum's Entry Hall and were greeted by Renee, who then took us to the rotunda in the main museum entrance.  We were introduced to Jeffery Epstein, Manager, Marketing & PR of D23, and then we were treated to a  continental breakfast.  Next, Jeffery introduced us to Becky Cline, Director of Walt Disney Archives and Nicholas Vega, Manager of Collections and Exhibits for the Archives.

Saving Mr. Banks - Update

Saving Mr. Banks at the London Film Festival

I know we are all patiently waiting for Saving Mr. Banks, as we wait I found this article on the film which was presented at the London Film Festival.  It sounds like Emma Thompson had "fun" playing P.L. Travers. Also at the D23 Presents the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives last week we asked, Becky Cline the Director of the Walt Disney Archives about the movie, she told us she has now seen it twice and was telling us how great she thought is was. (She did let us in on one little secret.) I for one cannot wait to see this movie.

Judy is a Disney Gal who loves picking up hitchhiking ghosts, sailing the rivers of the world in search of the ever elusive backside of water and singing with the tiki birds while enjoying her dole whip. She is the mother to two sons in the military and their wives. She has several furry grandchildren and cherishes how her husband reacts when he hears "Welcome Home". To learn more about Disney Gal Judy go here.

Disney Gals Hit The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler

Photo courtesy of mydisneymarathon.com

I would like to start out this post by sending out a BIG thank you to all of you guys that followed along all year in preparation for this race and to also say CONGRATULATIONS to those of you that just completed your first major race!! TEN MILES is quite an accomplishment, especially in the conditions that we saw during this year's Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler!

I know how everybody LOVES pictures, so let's start with that, shall we?

Special Event!

D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives - October 16, 2013

Disney Gal's Kelly and Judy

I have just returned from a long, but fun and interesting day at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Chicago. I attended D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives.  I will be sharing with you in the next few days the details of the day, but for now I wanted to share a few of the photos I took today to "tide you over".

I hope you will enjoy these and the articles for the event has much as I did attending.

Wordless Wednesday - October 16, 2013

TO THE DISNEY GALS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!

THE THEME OF THE DAY IS

ACTION!

Disney Gal Kelly:

We Have a Winner! - Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........

Congratulations Jessica Fullwood Dodge! You are the winner of the Alpha and Omega 2: A Howl-iday Adventure DVD or Blu-Ray combo pack!

All you need to do is email me with your address and preference of DVD or Blu-Ray. Please use disneygalskelly@gmail.com to let me know.

Enjoy the newest addition to your holiday collection!

Thanks everyone for all the entries, and keep your eye on DisneyGals.com for more giveaways coming very soon!

Kelly is a Disney Gal who loves finding fun and adventure on the High Seas aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Whether it's pampering, para sailing or the unlimited Diet Coke, she enjoys all the ships have to offer. She is currently wearing down Commodore Tom to allow her to blow any of the ships' musical horns. As of now, he is disinclined to acquiesce. To learn more about Kelly, click here.

D23 Presents the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at MSI

Treasures Opens October 16 in Chicago! The exhibition, celebrating 90 years of Disney imagination, innovation, and entertainment with iconic props, costumes, artwork, and artifacts from The Walt Disney Archives, opens October 16, 2013 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago Illinois.

My husband and I have been members of the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in Chicago since our boys were small, so when I received the most current museum flyer in the mail and I saw that D23 presents the Treasure of the Walt Disney Archives were set to arrive in mid-October I was beyond thrilled. 

We have been to a quite a few different special events at MSI and they are always handle with great  forth site and always with an interesting way of showing things.  We have also attended a couple of D23 events here in Chicago and some of them in Walt Disney World and again they have always been great! As such I was even more excited to receive a special email inviting me to attend the opening morning for "select working media" and an invitation in the mail for myself and Disney Gal Kelly to attend the evening exhibit's Opening Party.

Check back here soon to be filled in about this great event.

Here is an article that was in the Chicago Suntimes on Friday about the exhibition.


Judy is a Disney Gal who loves picking up hitchhiking ghosts, sailing the rivers of the world in search of the ever elusive backside of water and singing with the tiki birds while enjoying her dole whip. She is the mother to two sons in the military and their wives. She has several furry grandchildren and cherishes how her husband reacts when her hears "Welcome Home". To learn more about Disney Gal Judy go here.

Just In Time for the Holidays "Power Rangers Super Samurai Christmas Wish"

Any parent of young children, especially boys, knows all about the Power Rangers. This powerful troop of super heroes first morphed into our home back in 1993 and has been a mainstay in the lives of young and old alike ever since. The Power Rangers have gone from television, to movies and spawned into an entire line of toys, games and products and now just in time for the Christmas holidays is the newest addition to the Power Ranger family, “Power Rangers Super Samurai Christmas Wish”.  Filled with all the action you’ve come to expect from this dynamic band of teenagers combined with the warmth and the magic of the holidays, “Christmas Wish” is a must have for the Power Ranger fan in your house.   Here’s a quick preview of “Power Rangers Super Samurai Christmas Wish”:

Synopsis:

The Samurai Rangers are stuck in Megazord's cockpit when it breaks down after battling a Nighlok on Christmas Eve.  By using their smarts, determination and teamwork, will the Rangers make it out in time to celebrate Christmas?

Episodes

▪   Super Samurai Stuck on Christmas

▪   Mighty Morphin Forever Friends

▪   Mighty Morphin Alpha’s Magical Christmas 

Bonus Features

▪   “Mega Bloks Holiday Toymation” video

Filled with classic holiday songs, the Power Rangers Super Samurai: A Christmas Wish DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98.

Don’t let your fan be disappointed! This great movie is now available and on sale at Amazon for only $11.99 and can also be picked up at any Toys R Us, Target or Walmart stores. Enjoy your holidays with the Power Rangers this year!

Disclaimer I was given a copy of this DVD for reviewing purpose as a member of the Entertainment New Media Network.  All opinions are my own and truthful to my experience with the DVD

Gayle is a Disney Gal that loves churros for breakfast, still gets giddy with delight at the first sight of the “Disneyland next exit sign”, loves the overwhelming emotions and memories that come with each and every return to the Happiest Place on Earth and dreams of one day being the Captain of the Jungle Boat. To learn more about Gayle, click here

Guest Author Sunday

Welcome Back Tamela Hansen

As Disney lovers we all enjoyed planning our own vacations and many of us enjoy planning vacations for friends, family and the ones in the community.  When I plan our Disney vacations I do this in several stages.  First, I take time to plan the best dates for our family and the resort we choose to stay.  Second, I order maps and plan out which parks we will go to on each day.  Third, I make reservations and decide transportation from the parks toe my dining of choice. Then last but not least packing is part of our planning.

Choosing the best time for our family to go on a Disney vacation experience can be tricky.  We have to take into consideration the times that our children are out of school, my husband can take off work, and if we are going to take friends or family with us, a time that works best for everyone.  Also depending on what type of Disney vacation we are exploring we will consider the temperatures and weather that we may encounter during that time of the year.  We always make sure we plan our Disney vacation 8 months to a year before our arrival date.  This helps us with planning and also in budgeting.  Then of course this is what makes the Countdown begin!

Once we decide on a date now we have to decide on a resort.  The resort we pick will depends on our budget, the time of year, and the specials that are typically offered during those times of the year.  For our family if we are going to Walt Disney World during the summer we prefer to stay at a deluxe resort.  Since it may be very warm we can enjoy the pools and the, different amenities that the deluxe resorts offer.  If we are going with a larger group we typically stay at a value resort to make it easier on the budget for everyone included.  Then if it is just our family and there are nice dining or resort specials offered we typically stay at a moderate.  Through the years we have truly enjoyed all of the different resorts that we have stayed in at Walt Disney World.  Each and every resort has something awesome and amazing to offer to everyone.

When I am helping someone else planned an amazing Disney vacation I always help them start their Countdown by deciding the dates and the Walt Disney World Resort that works the best for them.  This is always a very enjoyable experience especially for those who are planning their very first Disney vacation!  Even though it is not my Walt Disney World vacation the excitement and the pure bliss of helping someone else planned their vacation is amazing for me!

Yeah! The excitement begins and the Countdown is on! Now to order maps and start looking at dining possibilities!  I always make a point to find out different foods that everyone likes and pick restaurant that will complement it.  Also, I always think about the dining experience because when you are dining at Disney it's not all about the food!  This is usually enough to keep us busy or family and friends busy until the next stage in our trip planning adventure!

Food & Wine Festival at Home, Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Pesto & Potato Crunchies

The pressure of missing this year’s Food & Wine Festival affected me so much that I actually broke down and made reservations to go this year.  One of my favorite dishes was from Australia.  The Grilled Lamb Chop with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies is making a repeat appearance this year, and I can't wait to compare my version with theirs.  This recipe was not in last year’s festival cookbook, but I liked it so much that I've made a tasty version easy enough for any home cook.  This is quick to prepare any weeknight, just remember to marinate the lamb the day before.

Mint Pesto
¾ cup fresh packed mint leaves
¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley leaves
2 scallions, sliced thick
2 medium garlic cloves
½ teaspoon of lemon zest, grated finely
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea Salt, to taste

1. Grab your food processor and toss in the parsley, scallions, garlic, lemon zest and mint leaves.  Press the button until it is chopped pretty good.
2. Add the olive oil slowly until the mixture is smooth
3. Add sea salt to taste

Easy peasy!  I triple the recipe and freeze the pesto in ice cube trays, which was done when fresh parsley & mint were plentiful at my local farmer's market.  Your local grocer should carry it, too.  Each cube equals about 1 oz of pesto that I can thaw later and put on a burger or add to pasta for a quick side dish on a busy night.

Everybody Raise a Glass to O'Gill's Irish Pub

Sláinte!

Céad míle fáilte and welcome to O'Gill's Irish Pub aboard the Disney Fantasy.

When I first heard about the theming of the nightclubs aboard the Fantasy, I couldn't wait to experience them, especially O'Gill's. You see, next to Disney, Ireland is my favorite spot to vacation. More specifically, the west coast, in a small town called Doolin, but that is another post for another day. I had high hopes that O'Gill's would be pulled right out of small town Ireland with a few "locals" playing traditional music in the evening. Friendly barkeeps telling stories, and even friendlier patrons would gather for some good craic. Well, I was half right.

Located on deck 4, aft, O'Gill's is nestled in with the smaller bars of the Europa district. Walking up to the pub, you can feel yourself being transported across the pond. The dark wood and antique lights set the stage perfectly.

 

Inside, the deep wood tones and brass accents are very reminiscent of traditional Irish pubs. Hard wood floors, bar stools crowded around small round tables, big cozy booths tucked in the corners, and Guiness on draught. Well done Imagineers!

However, there are a few issues. Shamrocks, everywhere! I know it's Irish, but enough is enough, and I've never been in a pub with big comfy chairs. I do understand that some concessions must be made for the comfort of the guests, so I'll let that slide.  But crushed were my dreams of live music. Instead O'Gill's is the ship's sports bar, and flat screen TV's are everywhere. The place does get pretty loud and rowdy when a big game is on, not unlike watching a Mayo vs Kerry match in the Emerald Isle. In the daytime when there's no major sporting event being broadcast, the pub plays host to adult trivia games put on by the Cruise Entertainment Staff. Subjects range from TV theme songs to movie quotes and more. So whether you're looking to challenge your shipmates' knowledge or quaff a few pints while cheering on your team, O'Gill's is the place to be!



One final thought, O'Gill's must be quite popular as they are adding it to the re-imagined Disney Magic. Take a look and be ready to book!  O'Gill's aboard the Disney Magic And if anyone from the Disney Cruise Line is reading this, a little live music would be a perfect touch.  :)


Kelly is a Disney Gal who loves finding fun and adventure on the High Seas aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Whether it's pampering, para sailing or the unlimited Diet Coke, she enjoys all the ships have to offer. She is currently wearing down Commodore Tom to allow her to blow any of the ships' musical horns. As of now, he is disinclined to acquiesce. To learn more about Kelly, click here.